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"If the government wants the 30-hours to succeed, it simply must invest what's needed - both in terms of adequate funding rates and a robust IT infrastructure.

"If it doesn't, it's providers and parents who will be left short-changed."

The Department for Education admitted the figure in a letter on August 24.

It said all parents would get places if they apply by this Thursday, but it would take until "the second week of September" to process them.

The letter added it will be "at the providers' risk" if they choose to let children start before knowing if they're eligible.

The government was unable to update the 56% figure today but sources insisted more codes will have been processed by now.

An HM Revenue and Customs spokesman said: " More than 200,000 parents have successfully applied for a childcare account. We know that some parents and childcare providers have experienced difficulties accessing the service and we are sorry about the inconvenience.

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"We’ve now made significant improvements based on customer feedback and on average more than 2,000 parents are applying successfully every single day.

"Those who apply in time and who get their code after 31 August will still be able to use it and the overwhelming majority – more than 200,000, have their codes already. Nobody need lose out as a result of the technical issues.

“Parents and providers experiencing difficulties or needing technical support can phone the childcare service helpline on 0300 123 4097.”

Tory Minister for Children and Families Robert Goodwill added: “We are determined to support as many families as possible with access to high-quality, affordable childcare, which is why we are investing a record £6 billion every year by 2020 in childcare – more than ever before – and doubling the free childcare available to working parents to 30 hours a week, saving them up to £5,000 a year per child.

“This funding includes an additional £1 billion per year by 2019-20 to pay for the free offers and to raise the national hourly rate to local authorities for three- and four-year-olds to £4.94 per hour. This is far higher than the average hourly cost of providing childcare for three- and four-year-olds, which recent research has found to be £3.72."